• Students, teachers, caregivers, and small entrepreneurs benefit from the programs
• Smartphones and AI tools support learning, work, and income opportunities
• Training focuses on practical skills families can use daily
Everyday technology is helping expand access to education and livelihood for Filipinos with disabilities. PLDT and Smart are building on this by rolling out digital training programs that use smartphones, basic applications, and AI-powered tools to support learners, workers, and caregivers across communities.
Through the PLDT Group’s IDEATe program, the company works with partners such as Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) to make digital tools more accessible and useful for people with different abilities.
Beneficiaries include students with disabilities enrolled in Special Needs Education or SNED programs, SNED teachers in public schools, and adults with disabilities seeking skills for employment or self-sustained livelihoods.
Rather than introducing complex systems, the approach centers on widely available technology such as mobile phones, built-in accessibility features, and basic digital applications.
Why it matters
For families of persons with disabilities, barriers to learning and employment are often part of daily life. SNED students require assistive tools that allow them to participate more fully in class, while SNED teachers often need training on inclusive and accessible digital resources.
Outside the classroom, adults with disabilities and their caregivers also look for flexible ways to earn an income. By focusing on practical digital skills, PLDT and Smart aim to make participation in a digitally connected society more attainable for a wide range of beneficiaries.
“Technology can help level the playing field for people who face barriers to education and employment,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, assistant vice president of and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart.
“By focusing on practical digital skills, we’re helping persons with disabilities engage more confidently in a digitally connected society," she added.
What’s being done
The initiatives span AI for Accessibility courses, Android Accessibility Training, and digital business basics programs developed in collaboration with organizations that support persons with disabilities. According to a press statement from PLDT and Smart, the company works closely with Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired or ATRIEV to design and deliver accessibility-focused training.
AI for Accessibility courses were initially rolled out for SNED teachers with support from the Department of Education schools divisions in Makati, Taguig, and Pateros, before being extended to advocates from partner organizations.
The Android Accessibility Training helps persons with visual impairment turn smartphones into assistive devices, while expanded modules developed with support from the NORFIL Foundation and the DepEd Schools Division Office of Manila also cater to learners with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Training is offered not only to persons with disabilities, but also to SNED teachers, advocates, and caregivers, helping extend support beyond classrooms and into homes and communities.
Beyond skills training
The programs also support livelihood opportunities. Participants, including persons with disabilities and their family members, learn how to design simple marketing materials, understand pricing, and explore online selling. Some graduates have joined workshops and company bazaars, allowing them to collaborate and reach wider markets.
PLDT and Smart also invest internally, with employees completing disability sensitivity workshops to help foster more inclusive workplaces and partnerships with schools and organizations.
The bigger picture
By using everyday technology, the company’s approach shows that inclusion does not always require expensive or specialized tools.
When familiar devices are used thoughtfully, they can help SNED students learn more effectively, families earn sustainably, and Filipinos with disabilities gain confidence and independence. -- Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed. Miguel R. Camus
